Pays N16 Billion Gratuities, Reviews Minimum Pension to N20,000
By Jabiru Hassan, Kano
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has accused the acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, of worsening the state’s social security crisis due to his failure to prioritize the payment of gratuities and death benefits for retirees during his eight-year tenure as governor.
Governor Yusuf expressed concerns over the “perennial neglect” of pensioners during the previous administration, which led to a cumulative outstanding amount of over N48 billion owed to the state’s Pension Fund Trustees. Yusuf made this revelation on Thursday during the official launch of the third tranche of the N5 billion payment for the backlog of gratuities and death benefits for retirees at the Government House’s open arena in Kano.
In a statement released by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, Governor Yusuf expressed his sympathy for state pensioners who, he said, had endured significant hardship during Ganduje’s administration due to neglect. He pointed out that many retirees had died while waiting for their entitlements.
“The perennial neglect of Ganduje’s administration in settling pensioners’ entitlements over the last eight years subjected retirees to untold hardship,” said Governor Yusuf. “This is the biggest social security threat ever witnessed since the creation of Kano State in 1967. Many have lost their lives while waiting endlessly for their gratuities.”
The Governor explained that the release of a cumulative N16 billion in gratuities to approximately 6,886 retirees in three tranches was part of his campaign promise to alleviate the pain of senior citizens who had contributed immensely to public service. He emphasized that paying the backlog of gratuities is not only an obligation but also a moral right of every leader.
Governor Yusuf assured retirees that the payment process would be transparent, with funds deposited directly into their bank accounts, avoiding the irregularities that characterized the past administration.
He also directed the state’s head of service, the Sharia commission, and the pension fund trustee to intensify efforts to locate the relatives of deceased pensioners for the payment of an additional N846 million in unclaimed death benefits.
“Out of the over N48 billion inherited, we began the settlement process with N6 billion for 2,266 retirees. A few months later, we released a second tranche of N5 billion for 2,216 pensioners. Today, I am overwhelmed with joy to witness the launch of the third tranche of N5 billion for 2,000 beneficiaries,” Governor Yusuf stated.
He emphasized that pension payments would be made via bank transfers to ensure transparency and eliminate the irregularities that plagued previous administrations.
Additionally, Governor Yusuf announced the approval for an upward review of the minimum pension award from N5,000 to N20,000 to better reflect the impact of inflation and the resulting implications on the purchasing power of retirees.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Titus Audu Amba, commended the Kano state government for its commitment to addressing the burden of pension gratuities. He urged Nigerian governors to follow Governor Yusuf’s example in honoring pensioners’ entitlements, noting that the N16 billion payment would not only improve the lives of the immediate beneficiaries but also enhance the state’s macroeconomic stability.
